Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform updates

After 40 years of moving backward on reform, the State Senate took its first giant steps forward this year. Beginning with the creation of the bipartisan Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform, and with immediate changes to bill sponsorship and other procedures, the effort included major changes in the way the State Senate operates, all only possible because of the new leadership of the Senate and the hard work of the Committee.

“Consistent with the rules reform adopted July 9, 2009, the New York State Senate is now making Senate payroll records publically accessible online in a searchable and sortable format. This is another step demonstrating the Senate Majority’s commitment to making state government more open, accountable and transparent for the people it serves.”

ALBANY, N.Y.)--State Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) was appointed to the Joint Advisory Board on the Broadcast of State Government Proceedings.

The eight-member, bi-partisan Joint Advisory Board will review how the Legislature can enhance the current Legislative TV Channel, launched in 2006, and provide more effective and informative programming about state government, based on the C-SPAN model.

For the past five weeks, I have had individuals across Central New York tell me that the time has come for real and significant reforms. To each, I have said simply, I agree. For the past five years, I have been advocating for a more open, responsive and responsible state Senate, one that empowers individuals members of the Senate, ends the tyranny of Senate leadership and puts the people back in charge of this chamber.

ALBANY, N.Y.--The State Senate adopted historic and sweeping rules reform, sponsored by State Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida), which will transform Senate operations, decentralize long-held leader control, and give each member of the house, regardless of party, fair opportunity to influence the legislative process.

Senate Minority Members have unveiled their report on proposed Rules Changes. The report highlights a series of reforms sought by Minority Members to make the Senate more transparent and equitable for all New Yorkers. This report was adopted by Senators Bonacic, Griffo, and Winner as a minority report of the Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration reform on April 21, 2009 and sent to Senate Leaders Smith and Skelos.

That prose sometimes unfolds in many chapters. The perfect example is reform of the legislative rules that govern the Senate. The Senate’s closed, leadership-driven culture was well documented, most notably by three reports from the Brennan Center for Justice: a 50-state analysis of legislative procedure in 2004; an update in 2006 that assessed rules changes; and a second update in 2008 that assessed new areas. (I was a co-author of the most recent report.)